Help Rescue 500 Battered Women And Their Children

Natalia called us from France earlier this year. She moved to France with her husband after he secured a job abroad. At first, everything seemed fine and she got pregnant. That is when things started to change. He criticized her for gaining weight and spending money on maternity clothes.

When she objected he screamed and told her to shut up. She felt like she was always walking on eggshells, afraid to say or do anything to make him angry. In her eighth month of pregnancy, he came home one night and went into a rage because she didn't have dinner ready. He pushed her and she fell down hitting her head on a table.

Natalia was terrified for the health of her baby, and for her own safety. After Brady was born her husband became even more violent and controlling and did not let her get his American Certificate of Birth Abroad or his American Passport. We were able to work with Natalia and pay for those to be issued on an emergency basis and fly her home with Brady to her parents home in the USA.

Natalia and Brady are doing well because of donations like yours that help us help vulnerable American victims in crisis abroad. Natalia's parents are over the moon to have their grandson in their home and Natalia is relieved not to be afraid anymore.

We can't thank you enough for your support! The AODVC Team.

In 2016 we were able to help 1444 victims because of folks like you who support our vital programs! Plus, case managers handed over 18,000 crisis communications! Here is a note from one of the very grateful battered American mother that we helped in 2016:

"When I called and Sarah answered the phone I was so afraid. I had never told anyone about the abuse. But Sarah was so compassionate and for the first time I heard that the abuse wasn't my fault. My husband always told me I caused it. That was three months ago and now my son and I are back home in the USA with my parents because of you. You changed our lives and our future. I will be forever grateful." Beth

The AODVC team thanks you for helping rescue battered American women and their children in foreign countries!

Lauren was desperate when she called us from her hospital room in Australia. She had just given birth to her son Joshua. She tried to leave her abusive husband and flee back to the USA while she was pregnant but her husband kept her captive. Our case manager Nicole listened to the horrible abuse Lauren had experienced from her husband during her pregnancy and Lauren feared for Joshua's safety.

Without a certicate of birth abroad or a valid American passport for Joshua, Nicole had to carefully strategize a plan to get Lauren and Joshua home to the USA. It took a couple of weeks but we did it! And thanks to donors like you, Lauren and Joshua are home, safe & sound and happy!

Here is a thank you from Lauren:

"I was so afraid. I don't have the words to describe what it meant to have Nicole as my case manager. She saved our lives."

Without donations like yours, the rescue of Lauren and Joshua would not have been possible. We truly appreciate you! The AODVC Team.

Nicole and her husband had been living in Mexico for two years. Nicole came back to the USA to visit her parents with her son Caden in September and called us. Nicole had suffered so much abuse from her husband in Mexico and did not want to go back. This was her chance to escape him forever. She was terrified her husband would come after her and file a Hague Petition.

We were able to get a free legal consulation for Nicole. The attorney felt Nicole would not have an issue facing a Hague petition due to her specific circumstances. Because of donations like yours, we were able to help Nicole get into housing for women fleeing domestic violence, paid her first two months rent and one month of child care for Caden while Nicole looks for a job.

We can't thank you enough for helping vulnerable American women and their children in foreign countries! The AODVC Team

Rita had been living in Ecuador with her daughter Chloe and her husband as American expatriates for two years when she contacted us. Her husband's job took them to Ecuador for a two year contract.

Rita's husband's abuse went from verbal insults to multiple incidents of physical abuse over the two years they had been in Ecuador. Rita was trying to wait out the two years until her husband's contract was up because of the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

But her husband renewed the contract for two more years without telling her.

We provided Rita with a free consultation with an international family law attorney and asked Rita to get a  hold of a copy of her husband's contract. After reading the contract, the attorney was confident Rita would be able to defend a Hague petition.

We safety planned and were able to get Rita and Chloe back home last month because of donations like yours! Thank you so much! The AODVC Team